Countywide GPS and Mapping Project (formerly Geocaching Project)

What you can do in this project:

Youth discover the world of orienteering using maps and global positioning system (GPS) technology to explore the world around them or plan an adventure.

• Learn how road and terrain, points of interest, travel times, and cardinal directions are shown
• Learn how to use a compass
• Learn to use different types of maps
• Learn the fundamentals of GPS technology and digital mapping
• Learn about careers and adventure opportunities that use GPS and maps
• Learn the fundamentals of geocaching and equipment
• Learn guidelines and rules of geocaching
• Explore outdoors looking for geocaches
• Learn how to build and place your own geocaches

Grades: 3-13

Cost: Must purchase Geocaching.com Premium membership on your own, $40 per year

Equipment Needed: Must have phone with Geocaching app installed or a hand-held GPS unit with geocaches downloaded prior to each meeting.

Project Add Deadline: January 1st

Location: Various Locations throughout Ozaukee County & local area beyond. Project leader will provide meeting locations.

2025-2026 Dates: (please RSVP to Jessica whether or not you plan to attend just prior to each meeting date.)

• November 7, 2025, 5:00 pm at Mequon Public Market (new members only)
  • Indoor talk on how project works and what supplies are needed.
  • Afterwards outside time to find a caches within walking distance of market.
• November 8, 2025, 2:00 pm at Tendick Park in Saukville (returning members only)
  • “Redemption” meeting – three caches remain that group was not able to find last year, let’s try again!
• December – January – TBD. Winter Break Date, Adventure Lab in Port Washington
• January/February – TBD., Elliott Property/MMSD Conservancy, Northwest Mequon
  • Guest speaker Joe Elliott talking Adventure/Orienteering races, with a outdoor mock race for youth
• February 4, 2026, 6:30 pm at Indoor Location TBD.
  • Using maps and GPS as a career with guest speaker/surveyor Rich Simon
• March 8, 2026, 1:00 pm at Location TBD.
• April 26, 2026, 4:00 pm at Location TBD.
• May 16, 2026, 9:00 am at Location TBD.
• June 6, 2026, 4:30 pm at Location TBD.

Record Books: Project youth should send photo of record book pages to project leader, Jessica, after county fair, and she will make comments and email back to youth. Youth can then print and put pages into record book before turning in to your general leader.

For more information, please contact:

Jessica Heller   414-218-4777  heller_jl@yahoo.com